Chapter X

Gervän and Arunahg sneaked through the forest. They could see the rock formation up ahead. Arunahg sniffed the air. “They are close.” He said. Gervän and Arunahg split up. The archers following them halted, one of them ran back to bring message. Gervän moved forward in the forest as Arunahg took a right, towards the rocks.

After 100 yards Gervän could see the Wild Men. They were encamped at the path leading to their village. A fire was burning as several men were eating, others were talking to each other. Gervän heard two men jumping from a tree, they were a few feet away from his location. Gervän hold his movement and breath. The men walked towards the rest of the group. One of the men, spoke to one of the eating men.

After he responded the atmosphere changed. From a relaxing atmosphere to one that could blow up at any time. Gervän moved in further to get a clearer view. He spotted an Ursidae standing on an edge overlooking the men, to his surprise the men did not pay attention to the bear. He then spotted Arunahg on the other side of the path, Arunahg’s eyes were fixed upon the men. Gervän could see the other members of the pack surrounding the Wild Men. The Följde Måne spread out as they readied their bows.

The captain, was accompanied by two men, as he stepped out of the forest. The Wild Men unsheathed and readied their weapons. “We did not come to fight.” The commander said. “Humph.” One of them answered. “How do you explain the three men killed by your weapons.” The commander was surprised. “We have no knowledge of such an event. We came for one of our kinsmen, he was found dead in this region.” The man stepped forward holding a big hammer. “Well, we do not have any knowledge about that, but someone has to pay for the lives lost!” He said as he hit the commander ‘s head with a blow.

As the commander fell to the ground the man was penetrated by several arrows. The rest of the group charged the remaining Följde Måne. Some were struck by arrows as others were killed by the pack. The captain was tended to the head as the others checked the bodies. “The blow was stopped by his helmet, he still lives.” One of the men said as they brought the captain on his feet. The Ursidae that stood upon the edge, jumped off and walked to the Följde Måne and the pack. “They told me, you would be here. Now since you have killed them, I assume there is war.” Arunahg looked to the bear. “You Ursidae are eager for battle, as always.” He said. “I could have jumped in but you were already killing them. It is not the Ursidae that are at war now.” The Ursidae said before entering the forest as several crows took flight towards the nearby village.

As Andraste and the Cervidae reached Asyl Måne they were awaited by High Priestess Fionnuala. “I have some advice for you women.” The stag said. “The man is not who you think he is. Darkness is growing inside of him.” “Then I shall give him my love.” Andraste said. “That will not save him.” The High Priestess said. “If you come with me I shall explain.” High Priestess Fionnuala turned to the Cervidae. “Thank you for bringing her.” She said as she bowed. The Cervidae returned the greeting. Andraste kissed the doe on her nose and stroked the stag. “Thank you.” She softly said.

High Priestess Fionnuala and Andraste started walking. “Do you remember the evening he was brought in?” Fionnuala asked. “Yes.” Andraste said softly. “I do not know how long it has been.” Fionnuala continued. “The darkness is strong within him. He knows this.” High Priestess Fionnuala stopped. “Your brother is dead.” She said. Andraste freezed and started crying. “I know, I felt it in my heart.” She said as she stopped crying. “Was it because of Garvåre?” she asked. “No, for if it was him, Asyl Måne would be in ruins now.” Fionnuala said. “Garvåre is at Lärnberg now. After he has returned here, he shall not stay. His destiny lies not here.” Andraste looked at Fionnuala. “What is his destiny?” she asked. “I do not know.” Fionnuala answered. The two remained silent as the High Priestess started walking. “You will die if you stay with him and he is the one that will kill you.” Priestess Fionnuala said as she stepped into Mal Av Prognos. “Farewell for now.” Fionnuala said as she walked around a corner disappearing from Andraste’s sight. Andraste dropped to her knees and started crying.

Many miles away Garvåre woke up. As he looked around he could see Nerawn talking with some miners. Garvare stood up and walked toward the group. “What part of the day is it?” He asked. “It always feels like a different time of the day, when you are mining in the mountain.” A miner said. “Just make your own morning, afternoon and evening. That’ll work better down here.” He gave Garvare a loaf of bread as he sat down with the rest. “Your hair has grown quite fast down here Garvare.” Mentioned Nerawn. “Looking darker as well. Want to get out for the sun, it is a little walk.” “Let me eat and drink first, then I shall breathe the outside air again.” Garvare said as he took a bite. The four of them chatted for a while till the miners left. Garvare and Nerawn walked towards the Baths were miners could go and see, hear and breathe the outside air. This would prevent the consolidation of a miner in the darkness of the mountain.

Before the Följde Måne settled at Lärnberg, a race lived there that dwelled in the deep caverns of the world and they detested the light of the sun. The Följde Måne drove them out of the mountain, yet physically driven away, their presence lives on inside the mountain. This presence has caused miners to attack others, when approached after they were alone for too long.

Priestess Irsdaril walked along with Garvåre and Nerawn. The priestess was in spirit form, a form wherein the soul is detached from the body. In order to reach this, one would meditate for many years and have a strong connection with nature. Even though Garvåre could not see the priestess, he could feel her presence, it kept him calm during his time in the mountain. As they reached the Baths Garvåre sat down. Nerawn sat down next to him. “How long do you think you will need for the ore, Garvåre?” Nerawn asked. Garvåre looked to the sky. “I think two more rests. I have no idea yet how much I need. I will find that out, when I start to melt the ore.” He said. “I have mined two bags so far.” Nerawn nodded and they remained silent.

As Anun woke up he noticed he was locked up inside a cage. As he looked around he could see that he was in the village of the Wild Men. He tried to stand up but fell to the ground, his left leg was cut open so he could not walk. Anun gathered his strength and howled as loud as he could. Several men looked worried towards the cage and one of them stabbed Anun in the stomach with a spear. Anun’s eyes widened and then closed as he fell to the ground.

Arunahg and Gervän were near the crossroad as they heard Anun’s howl. They responded by howling and soon the entire pack howled leaving fear upon the Wild Men. Arunahg and Gervän headed towards the origin of the sound and soon saw the village. What they saw they could not expect. Thousands of men were encamped around the village. “Seems they are ready for war. We need to warn the Följde Måne.” Gervän said. “Ah, this will be interesting. They outnumber us quite easy. We will need to inform the Elder as well. The pack is not strong enough to take them head on.” Arunahg said.

Two other wolves appeared from the bushes. “We will stay here and watch their movements.” Durum said. “Arunahg, go to Lärnberg and inform them. Gervän, inform the Elder of what is going on. The rest of the pack will stay here. I expect both of you to return in two days. Hurry, time is precious.” As Arunahg and Gervän ran off towards their objective Durum howled. The pack returned the howl, they had surrounded the encampments of the Wild Men.

The entire encampment was awoken. Some of them cried with fear as they remembered the howl from previous engagements, others fired arrows into the treeline from whence the sound came. As Durum watched the men in the encampments the clouds disappeared and the moon shone on the area. Durum howled again, longer and fiercer then before. It was his last warning as the leader of the pack. “Leave now, or we shall spare none.” All around the encampment the barks of the pack where heard. A third of the men dropped their weapons and fled eastward. Durum and Furir went back into the forest.